Nginx WebDAV Setup

Overview

Nginx serves as the WebDAV endpoint, providing HTTP-based file access. The configuration creates three server blocks:

Port 80 — default HTTP, serves as landing page and Let’s Encrypt challenge endpoint
Port 82 — WebDAV without authentication (open access)
Port 83 — WebDAV with HTTP Basic authentication

Automatic Installation

The install scripts handle the full Nginx setup:

# Debian
sudo ./install-debian.sh --domain files.example.com --user friendly

# CentOS / RHEL
sudo ./install-centos.sh --domain files.example.com --user friendly

What the Script Does

Debian

Installs nginx, nginx-extras, libnginx-mod-http-dav-ext
Creates /var/www/html/webdav/ directory with proper ownership (www-data)
Deploys Nginx configuration from template
Creates .htpasswd file for authentication

CentOS / RHEL

Adds the official Nginx repository
Installs Nginx from the repository
Downloads Nginx source matching installed version
Compiles ngx_http_dav_ext_module.so as a dynamic module
Loads the module in nginx.conf
Creates /var/www/html/webdav/ directory with proper ownership (nginx)
Deploys Nginx configuration from template
Creates .htpasswd file for authentication
Configures SELinux policies

Nginx Configuration

The configuration template is located at configs/nginx/default.conf.template.

WebDAV Methods

The following WebDAV methods are enabled:

Method	Purpose
PUT	Upload files
DELETE	Delete files or directories
MKCOL	Create directories
COPY	Copy files or directories
MOVE	Move/rename files or directories
PROPFIND	List directory contents and file properties
OPTIONS	Query supported methods

Method

Purpose

PUT

Upload files

DELETE

Delete files or directories

MKCOL

Create directories

COPY

Copy files or directories

MOVE

Move/rename files or directories

PROPFIND

List directory contents and file properties

OPTIONS

Query supported methods

Key Directives

create_full_put_path on: Automatically creates intermediate directories when uploading files to nested paths.
client_max_body_size 0: No limit on upload file size.
dav_access user:rw group:rw all:rw: Read/write access for all permission levels.
autoindex on: Enables directory listing in the browser.

Manual Configuration

If you need to modify the Nginx configuration after installation:

Debian

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default
sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx

CentOS / RHEL

sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf
sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginx

Verification

Test WebDAV access using a browser or the Filestash WebDAV client:

Open access: http://<domain>:82/
Authenticated access: http://<domain>:83/ (enter username and password)

Or use curl:

# Upload a file (no auth)
curl -T testfile.txt http://files.example.com:82/testfile.txt

# Upload a file (with auth)
curl -u friendly:password -T testfile.txt http://files.example.com:83/testfile.txt

# List files
curl http://files.example.com:82/

# Delete a file
curl -X DELETE http://files.example.com:82/testfile.txt